Politics

UK “disappointed” by Maldives withdrawal from Commonwealth

Adding to the chorus of concern, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Thursday that the UK “regrets that the Maldives has chosen to leave.”

Maldives quits the Commonwealth: a round up of reactions

The decision to quit the Commonwealth has prompted a storm of criticism and calls to reverse the Maldives’ isolationist course

Political parties unite in condemning elections commission

Five of the six registered political parties in the Maldives have united in condemning the elections commission’s refusal to disburse public funding

Maldives quits Commonwealth citing ‘unfair and unjust’ treatment

The move comes after the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog placed the Maldives on its formal agenda and warned of suspension if progress is not made by March 2017 to resolve an intractable political crisis.

Gayoom’s son cannot represent PPM, insists majority leader

After a meeting between the PPM parliamentary group and President Abdulla Yameen, Majority Leader Nihan criticised PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s decision to appoint his son to represent the ruling party in the upcoming all-party talks, insisting that Faris Maumoon is no longer a PPM member.

Funding for political parties withheld

Citing leadership vacuums and complaints over reckless spending and mismanagement, the elections commission has withheld public funding for all political parties

Fenaka chairman resigns amid corruption scandal

Nadheem cited mismanagement by Fenaka’s staff as well as their refusal to consult the board and follow instructions on procurement of fuel by the president’s office

Government accused of undermining all-party talks with preconditions

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has accused the government of attempting to obstruct the upcoming all-party talks by demanding council-endorsed representatives and ruling out negotiating with jailed opposition leaders.

PPM MPs seek reconciliation between Gayoom brothers

MPs of the Progressive Party of Maldives are seeking to mediate between the party’s leader and the incumbent president to resolve a bitter power struggle that has split the ruling party.

State wholesaler appeals to recover US$1.2m from PPM MPs’ company

The State Trading Organisation has appealed a civil court ruling in favour of a company owned by ruling party MP Riyaz Rasheed to recover MVR19.3 million (US$1.2 million) released as a credit facility.

Former members seek UN protection for human rights watchdog

Nasheed seeks UN intervention to contest presidential elections in 2018

The former President has challenged his conviction under terrorism charges with the organization’s Human Rights Committee

Opposition launches nationwide protests over food prices

Days after the government hiked the prices of staple food, the opposition announced plans of organizing protests across the country

Human rights lawyer given six-month ban for criticising judges

Nazim Sattar was handed a six-month ban days after he lodged a complaint against a criminal court judge

More than 100 graduates still awaiting law licence from supreme court

Some hundred graduates who have been waiting on a law license for more than a year had their hopes dashed Wednesday when the DJA cancelled an award ceremony at the last minute

Majlis reconvenes with debate on food subsidy cut

The People’s Majlis reconvened after a one-month recess today with a heated debate about the doubling of prices for staple foods after the government’s abrupt decision to target subsidies for the needy.

Court ruling threatens to halve MDP’s membership and state funding

The civil court has ruled against an MDP petition that sought to overturn the retroactive application of a requirement for fingerprinted forms for political party membership, threatening to reduce the party’s membership and state funding by half

FAM dismisses claim of ‘government interference’ in top footballer’s exclusion

The Football Association of Maldives has dismissed claims of politicization as controversy grows around its exclusion of a top footballer, who is also a leading opposition activist, from the Maldives campaign for the 2019 Asian Cup

Yameen meets top Saudi officials to discuss development assistance

During official talks, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz accepted an invitation to visit the Maldives at a mutually convenient date. Yameen also met with the Saudi foreign minister, education minister, Islamic affairs minister, and the chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development.

Gayoom rebuffs government’s demand of council-endorsed representatives for talks

The government demanded that representatives for all-party talks must be endorsed by executive councils after Gayoom appointed his son to represent the PPM. A majority of the divided ruling party’s council is seen as loyal to President Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing fued between the Gayoom brothers.